The Constitutional Court welcoming students of SMA Santa Patricia Tangerang, Wednesday (14/2) at the ground floor hall of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ganie.

The Constitutional Court (MK) welcomed students of SMA Santa Patricia, Tangerang. Court researcher Andriani Wahyuningtyas Novitasari met with them at the ground floor hall of the Constitutional Court on Wednesday (14/2/2018).

Delivering a presentation entitled "Constitutional Justice in Indonesia," Andriani explained systematically the duties and authorities of the Constitutional Court as part of the judiciary in Indonesia. In Indonesia, she added, there are two judicial institutions: the Supreme Court (MA) and the Constitutional Court (MK). "The Constitutional Court has limited authorities. Everything is regulated and determined by Article 24C of the 1945 Constitution. So, the Constitutional Court is a state administrative court," said Andriani. 

One of the examples of the cases the Constitutional Court had decided on, Andriani said, was a case petitioned by a student member of the national flag-hoisting team (Paskibraka), Gloria Natapradja. Andriani recounted that the student had been represented by his mother as she had not been able to file a lawsuit directly because she was not yet 21 years old and could not become a legal object. "Therefore, the child was represented by the guardian and in the decision of the hearing, student Gloria got her rights as a citizen," Andriani said. 

In addition, Andriani explained that the Constitutional Court was authorized to handle violations related to disputes over the results of general elections, both regional and presidential/vice presidential elections. Andrini advised the students that should there be any violation in a regional election, there is no need to commit acts of violence. "Each party can submit a petition to the Court without having to dispute with violence and act in anarchy. So, the election [monitoring officials] may submit a dispute [petition] to the Constitutional Court," explained Andriani. 

Andriani also explained the requirements for constitutional justices. She also motivated students who might later aspire to become constitutional justices to prepare themselves in advance with special conditions that the constitutional justice be statespeople. Constitutional justice candidates, Andriani added, must be a statesperson whose wisdom exceeds that of other officials and to not have political interest in the case they are handling. "Maybe [some of you] who can later run as a constitutional justice, so [you] must meet the requirements as statespeople," she explained. 

Andriani also invited the students to follow the development of cases handled by the Constitutional Court by accessing the Court’s social media accounts, which present information by following the progress and needs of the community for fast, reliable, and modern information access. "[You] can find out whatever happens in the Constitutional Court because [the Court uses IT. Even for long-distance hearing, we have virtual hearing through video conference to facilitate the hearing," said Andriani. 

After getting information about the Constitutional Court, the 98 students, who were accompanied by the Principal I Made Pasek along with three accompanying teachers, were invited to tour the Constitutional and Historical Center (Puskon) of the Constitutional Court. Hopefully by watching the dioramas at the Constitutional Court, the students could get to know the Court better. (Sri Pujianti/LA)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti